From the ground up: Expert tips for taking care of your trees

Friday, November 16, 2012

Following Hurricane Sandy, most of us in Chester County were able to simply breathe a sigh of relief and go on with life as usual. Elsewhere, folks weren’t so lucky. In many communities trees toppled like dominoes, damaging homes and vehicles and marring landscapes.

This of course could happen anywhere, in another big storm. So while there is currently no extreme weather on the horizon, I took the opportunity to talk with Chris Miller, District Manager of the Davey Tree Expert Company in King of Prussia, which serves Chester, Montgomery, Delaware and Philadelphia Counties. I wanted to know what kinds of things homeowners can do to protect their trees before a hurricane or other major storm hits.

“Consistent, pro-active tree maintenance is the main thing, and this is what we emphasize,” said Miller. “Trees will fail under the right circumstances -- wind, rain, saturated soil -- and a hurricane can create all of those. We had many clients who saw minimal damage because they have regular maintenance. They weren’t the ones calling in.”

What does maintenance amount to? Miller strongly recommends having an arborist come out to do a comprehensive property evaluation: look at each tree; identify any potential hazards; come up with specific recommendations.

For instance, Miller explained that trees with heavy canopies have what’s essentially a “sail,” presenting more surface area to the wind. Though it’s not a 100 percent guarantee, regular thinning of the canopy helps prevent damage.

In addition to preventive maintenance, there are things that homeowners should do after a storm, too. “Go out and look at your trees,”said Miller. “Most broken branches will be obvious, but it will probably take closer inspection to detect cracks in the trunk. “

Another thing to look for is any heaving of the root mass at the base of the tree, since this is a precursor to uprooting. But“you need a good idea of what your trees looked like before the storm. Take an occasional stroll around your property and really look at your trees,” Miller said.

If storm damage has occurred, “it’s absolutely important to have someone prune off at the damaged area,”he said. “The tree will recover better.” Making those pruning cuts properly is also important. “Cuts should not be made flush against the trunk. Make the cut just above the branch collar” -- noted in photo. Using sharp tools and cutting at an angle are also important.

Overall, having healthy trees starts with where and how they’re planted. “Right tree, right place,” is Miller’s rule of thumb. For instance, a pin oak that can grow to 80 or more feet has no place under a power line. Otherwise, you’re looking at heavy maintenance for years to come. Likewise, you don’t want an eventual 100-foot tulip tree next to your house, since these trees are more likely to have deadwood come down in a storm.

Be careful to not plant trees too deeply. Miller said, “If there is soil against the trunk, the tree can produce roots at that level. The result is that lower roots won’t develop as they should and the tree won’t be as stable in heavy winds. Also, the roots aren’t at the proper level to get nutrients.”

Other advice: avoid planting trees on mounds, where they won’t develop enough of a root system. Avoid planting too close to paved areas: driveways, streets, sidewalks.

For continuing health, it’s better to mulch trees all the way out to the drip line (the edge of the outermost branches). This provides better soil nutrition, since they’re not in direct competition with turf.

Ultimately, the best way to have healthy trees that are able to stand up to heavy storms is to locate wisely, plant properly, make regular visual inspections and apply regular maintenance.

Pam Baxter is an avid organic vegetable gardener who lives in Kimberton. She is newsletter editor of the Green Valleys Association. Direct e-mail to pcbaxter@verizon.net, or send mail to P.O. Box 80, Kimberton, PA 19442.